On Wed, 12 May 2004 21:35:42 +0000 (UTC), "Cousin Jack Newquay"
wrote:

Sorry folks - please bear with me.

I love to fly (as a passenger) but am keen to 'get my hands on the
controls'.

Where do I start?

MS Flight Sim?

What 'joystick' and 'foot pedals'?

Your guidance will be very much appreciated.

Thanks group.



Cousin Jack,

I fly real planes and the simulator. I'm a relatively new, low time
pilot in the real stuff but I started flying Flight Simulator when it
was Sub-Logic (before MS bought it). I though that Atari 800 was
pretty slick stuff back then.

Here's the bottom line. Flight Simulator is an incredible program
and, in my opinion, is a fabulous training aid....for some things.
Here's what I recommend. If you're serious about flying, get a yoke
and rudder pedals. I use CH controls and I like them. I'd like to
move up but the next move costs many times more and the CH stuff is
more than serviceable. Next, go for an introductory flight and get a
feel for what it is like to fly a real plane. The sensory inputs will
stick in your mind and be of some value to you when you fly a computer
that doesn't give you any such sensations. If you ever intend to
learn how to fly for real, be concious of the bad habits that can be
developed on a simulator. Most important of these is the tendency for
a sim pilot to focus on the instrument panel and spend far too little
time looking out the window. Enjoy the scenery.

When I have a flight that is going outside of my local little flying
area, I fly it on the sim first and the similarities are astounding.
If you can navigate on the sim, you can navigate in the real thing.

Finally, don't get discouraged. It can be difficult, depending on how
realistic you want to be. Have fun with it.

Rich Russell